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Staying mindful with Depression

I've been experiencing a complete mix of good and bad days recently; some where I feel so motivated but ill and others where I am completely overwhelmed by a desperate urge to sleep and have no energy for anything. These are days I feel so empty and disconnected from the world, I will do anything to hide from it. My article contains a few things that help for me and I wanted to approach it in a completely vague way as there are so many levels and kinds of depression, from feeling physically terrible, sleepy, low in mood, feeling bizarre, to feeling completely detached from life. There are countless ways it can manifest but when life starts to feel uncomfortable - whether it is brought on by events or has completely arisen on its own, whether it's something you've always had - I hope my article might help a little bit.

. Understand the difference between physical sensations, thoughts and emotions. There can be so many different physical sensations that go along with depression and anxiety, from a deep gnawing in the pit of your stomach, just needing to sleep, weighed down or just very ill. Often we attach meaning to these symptoms which can add even more emphasis to them, from thoughts like "When will I feel better?" or even "I don't deserve to feel better". By stripping your physical symptoms of their meaning, they quickly become less important.

. Observe your thoughts and feelings and how they make you feel. Take a moment to notice your thoughts from a clear perspective, do not judge them in any way when they arise. Think of your thoughts or feelings like clouds, coming and leaving; they won't stay for long. Observe each one as it comes and goes and look at how you might normally respond to them and give them meaning. Are they really helpful to you - how do they make you feel?

. Stop fighting it. Let it come. Whatever terrible things you feel, let them in. It's completely fine to feel that way. Embrace the windiest, rainiest day, because it's there. The way you might feel is not something to get rid of, it's part of you and completely normal and natural. Give your feelings the warmest welcome, let them stay a while, treat them compassionately, like a wounded bird. Change comes with commotion, let it coexist with who you are. It's okay.

. There is good in everything. Even if the last thing you feel is good, try turning the situation on its head, as difficult as it may seem! I'm so grateful for learning techniques to combat my anxiety because they are so useful to apply to all areas of my life. I'm grateful in a way for the bad, ill days because they make days where I actually feel normal amazing! It's total bliss to me, the idea of feeling 'normal'. My struggles means I can connect and sympathise with people on another level I have never attained before.

. Live simply, be kind. Leave that instagram page alone and keep connecting with strangers in real life. Contributing and spreading kindness is the most constructive thing you can ever do and the most satisfying in fulfilling your human purpose. We have our careers we try to perfect, not to mention our social media profiles, but happiness doesn't require that fame, all those followers or expensive things. Happiness can be found in the smallest of places and definitely without all of those things - I'm sure they got on pretty well in Disney princess times, definitely minus the villains! If you need to rest, or work from home that's okay. Just paying someone a compliment, saying thank you, constructing a little prayer in your head to wish everyone well will help connect you back to your happy roots. It may not be the end all cure, but just making it your mission will give you a kind of purpose you never imagined you'd have.

Do you feel bad sometimes? What are your feel-better strategies?This is actually a little survey I'm doing as part of my course of CBT so I thought I would ask you guys! Lots of love!*the nature of this post will never replace proper therapies such as CBT and medication in order to treat any kind of depression or M.E/CFS. I understand how terrible the nature of it can be. I hope my article might help just a little bit alongside these therapies and please understand you are never alone in this! Feel free to drop me an email at icecreamclarablog@gmail.com

37 comments
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That's a really nice post! I know what it means being depressed, I always have to pay attention, avoid negative videos or pictures or also places! It's so easy for me be depressed~ and it takes time to be motivated again! But I try hard to be happy :)I hope your post will help a lot of people that still can't find a way to be happy again ~Have a lovely day cutie ♥

Hi Silvia! Thank you so much for leaving a comment, I know what you mean about triggers, they can have such a profound effect! I'm really thinking of starting a series of posts about acknowledging and facing our triggers, it's what I'm trying to do in my CBT at the moment but is impossibly hard! It sounds like you are doing so well, I hope you have a lovely day too :D xx

Hello dear, I love this post! I've been through difficult and even unmanageable emotions lately, often leading to panic attacks. I can't really explain how horrible they can be if you don't know how to manage them, but I found out that the strategies I've been using to help myself feel better work really well when I have these awful attacks. I try to think that feeling sad is not bad at all, as long as you are not sad all the time, and that you have to be objective when it comes to your emotions, I mean: you have to choose what can make you feel wrong and what shouldn't affect your emotions in a negative way.

I agree in most of the things you said. Being a mother sometimes can be exhausting and it can make you feel very tired and sad.

I am following your nice blog via GFC (I wanted to follow via Bloglovin but I couldn't, maybe you can give me your link and I'll follow you there, also) I would be so happy if you followed me back, so we can support each other. Thanks. Have a lovely Sunday.

Hi Walking Freckle, thanks so much for your lovely comment! It's so nice to have so many things similar! But what you describe sounds awful to face, it sounds like you have become such a strong person as a result. I wish no one had to go through these things, they can put you in such a lonely place aswell as the struggles you are already experiencing. Reading your comment made me feel a little bit less alone in what I am experiencing and I am also trying to face my triggers with CBT at the moment but is very hard! I am thinking of doing a series of posts so I can work through them together with my readers. I would really love to - it's lovely to meet you! :D xx

This was an incredibly insightful little post. I've noticed that I'm starting to pick up a little bit of seasonal depression... it always seems to hit me so hard this time of year. I'm always happy to stumble upon posts like this :)Love your little blog, by the way! I'm officially subscribed :)

Thank you so much Alexandra, both for the lovely comment and follow! I'm very sorry to hear that, I'm so glad my post could help a tiny bit and I'm so happy to meet you ^^ I hope you feel better soon and your blog is lovely!! If you ever need to chat I am here xx

Stepping back from the online world and making time for family and loved ones, as well as spending some time outside. But I don't suffer from depression, so it is just when I feel a little worn out.Thank you for sharing these tips, it is very important to show that you aren't alone and I am sure your post will have helped others reading it.

I really enjoyed reading this post, thank you for sharing some tips. I find when I'm having a bad bout of sadness I like to treat myself to pamper evenings and colouring books accompanied by a bottle of wine! I hope you're having a better week lovely.

As someone who suffered from clinical depression in the past, unfortunately I found that simply thinking positive thoughts and focusing on the good things doesn't work. Depression as a condition is much, much more complex than that. It's not just about feeling unhappy or fed up with life for a few days. I still enjoyed your post, there are some really good, helpful tips in there. Thanks for sharing x

Hi Kay! Reading your comment made me look at my post and realise what was wrong! It is sadly very true how complex and debilitating it can be and no article like this will ever replace proper treatments for depression and its variations that are so misunderstood. I too find myself campaigning for people to take it as seriously as physical illness because it is just as bad and often worse. Often people think they are helping, but just cannot understand how unwell I am feeling. I'm glad it has helped in the smallest of ways; thanks so much for your lovely comment! xx

This is what I needed to read, thank you for sharing! I have been having these bad days for the last couple of weeks and it just doesn't go away as wherever I turn my thoughts towards to nothing good comes up! I took over a week of online world to try to deal with the problems however it didn't go as planned and now I know that this little world just makes me leave my problems behind at least then I don't have to worry about anything.

Hi Ela, thank you for your lovely comment! ^^ I'm so glad you enjoyed my article, I know that so well, that I am always wanting to escape from the world because it seems so bad and full of triggers. I just want to hibernate forever and hide from it. Only then it is worse for me long term! Try speaking out about what you're feeling if you can, there may be something your health advisor can suggest that could help! It's lovely to find someone suffering something similar and I am always here to chat if you need to :) xx

Great post! I'm sorry you feel that way.. whenever I feel like I want to isolate myself, I like to go for a walk in the nature.. just breathe in the good and breathe out the bad, think of little things that make me happy and I'm as good as new :) I hope you feel better soon :) xx

Hi Kelly, thanks so much for sharing with me! Those seem like great cures and very helpful. I am trying to do things like this myself, even though they won't cure how I feel, doing them will challenge me and mean a change from sitting at home analysing my symptoms and how I feel! thanks so much! ^^ xx

Hi Lucy, thanks so much for your comment! I'm so happy to meet someone similar and yes, I often think about my siblings feeling normal all the time and how they don't know how lucky they are! It's so true xx

These were some great tips, especially not fighting it and just letting yourself feel that way for a while, I have to just let myself lie down, watch a box set and just feel how I do for a while <3 I find it helps to keep a positivity diary, I write down one good thing ( no matter how small ) each day and it helps me refocus on the idea that " Everyday may not be good but there's something good in everyday." I also find it helpful to make a list of 3 things I'd like to achieve each day, not big important things but small easy things like paint my nails or have pasta for lunch and it helps give my day purpose :) I found this post really helpful and would really like to see more like this <3

Hi Marianne, thank you so much for your lovely comment! I'm really glad you enjoyed my post, that's probably my favourite exercise too! That is a wonderful idea, as I only keep a health diary and sometimes that makes me feel negative when I've been going through a blip. What a great quote! I shall give that a go and let you know how I get on. Thank you so much - I can learn so much from you too!! :D xx

Great post and thank you for writing about this topic. I like you have good and bad days but your second point is what I find helps me the most - observing my thoughts and feelings to better understand them. Mindfulness helps a lot and like Beckie above I keep a worry diary which helps with anxiety.